Winter '09 Short Reviews

Only a couple of months late, but the new semester's schedule is really tough. Anyway, winter had a couple of good one-cour series and another couple of two-cour also concluded.

Excellent:

Maria Holic

Good:

Ride Back, To aru Majutsu no Index, Toradora

OK:

Akikan, Shikabane Hime, Zettai Karen Children

Watchable:

Asu no Yoichi, Clannad, Tales of the Abyss

Avoid:

Druaga 2

Maria + Holic
まりあ†ほりっく
AniDB, ANN, Official, Thread@AnimeSuki, Preview, Impressions
Studio: SHAFT
Directed by: Miyamoto Yukihiro, Shinbo Akiyuki
Character Designs by: Morioka Hideyuki
Original Manga by: Endo Minari
Series Composition by: Yokotani Masahiro
Sanada Asami (Kanako), Inoue Maria (Matsurika), Kobayashi Yu (Mariya)

SHAFT again delivered a hilarious series loaded with references and absurdity. Animation was typical of the studio, as well as the BGM and OP/ED. The cast of characters was quite large, but all got at least a centric episode, which helped characterization.

Ride Back
ライドバック
AniDB, ANN, Official, Thread@AnimeSuki, Preview, Impressions
Studio: MADHOUSE
Directed by: Takahashi Atsushi
Character Designs by: Tazaki Satoshi
Original Manga by: Kasahara Tetsuro
Screenplay/Series Composition by: Takayashiki Hideo
VA? (role?), ...?

Excellent animation and incorporation of 3D mech design. The theme was also a little heavier then the anime norm, but was well handled and avoided childish over-simplifications. What IMHO hurted the series was its short length, especially when one takes into account the 10+ volumes of the novels it was based on.

To aru no Majutsu no Index
とある魔術の禁書目録
aka A Certain Magical Index
AniDB, AnimePlanet, ANN, Official, Thread@AnimeSuki, TV-Tropes, Preview, Impressions (1st cour), Impressions (2nd cour)
Studio: J.C.Staff
Directed by: Nishikiori Hiroshi
Character Designs by: Tanaka Yuichi
Original Character Designs by: Haimura Kiyotaka
Original Novel by: Kamachi Kazuma
Series Composition/Screenplay by: Akahoshi Masanao
VAs: Abe Achushi (Touma), Iguchi Yuka (Index), Satou Rina (Mikoto), Koyama Kimiko (Komoe), Taniyama Kishou (Styil), Noto Mamiko (Aisha), Okamoto Nobuhiko (Accelarator), Arai Satomi (Kumoko), Itou Shizuka (Kaori), Seki Tshihiko (Alister Crowly)

A typical JCStaff action show. In all categories it had its ups and downs depending on the arc, but overall it was fairly enjoyable.

Toradora!
とらドラ！
AniDB, AnimePlanet, ANN, Official, Forum@AnimeSuki, TV-Tropes, Preview, Impressions (1st cour), Impressions (2nd cour)
Studio: J.C.Staff
Directed by: Nagai Tatsuyuki
Character Designs by: Tanaka Masayoshi
Original Character Designs by: Yasu
Original Manga by: Takemiya Yuyuko
Series Composition by: Okada Mari
VAs: Hugimiya Rie (Taiga), Majima Junji (Ryuuji), Kitamura Eri (Ami), Nojima Hirofumi (Kitamura), Horie Yui (Minori)

Lovcom at its prime. Normally I found these shows boring, but this one is a shining exception. My only gripe was the rushed (and somewhat irrational) ending, but otherwise the show was very nice.

Shikabane Hime: Kuro
屍姫 玄
aka Corpse Princess: Black
AniDB, AnimePlanet, ANN, Official, Thread@AnimeSuki, TV-Tropes, Impressions (Aka), Impressions (Kuro)
Studio: feel. & GAINAX
Directed by: Murata Masahiko
Character Designs by: Kubota Chikashi, Sadakata Kikuto
Original Managa by: Akahito Yoshiichi
Screenplay/Script by: Aikawa Shou
VAs: Akiyama Nana (Makina), Hosome Tatsuya (Ouri)

Plot-wise the second season was better then the first, actually "meatier" since there was resolution. What the season lacked was Keisei's character. Anyway, the annoying VAs improved a little, with the exception of Ouri. Action was OK, especially during the last episode. In general a good action show.

Akikan!
アキカン！
aka Empty Can
AniDB, ANN, Official, Thread@AnimeSuki, Preview, Impressions
Studio: Brains Base
Directed by: Himaki Yuji
Character Designs by: Tanaka Ryo
Original Character Designs by: Suzuhira Hiro
Original Manga by: Ranjo Riku
Series Composition by: Koyasu Hideaki
VAs: Fukuyama Jun (Daichi), Narita Sayaka (Meron)

The first half featured some of the worst animation I have seen recently, but this improved to average during the latter half. What I liked in the show was the innuendo, probably due to age category of the novels. Save for that the show would have entered my avoid list.

Zettai Karen Children
絶対可憐チルドレン
AniDB, AnimePlanet, ANN, Official, Thread@AnimeSuki, TV-Tropes, Preview, Impressions
Studio: Synergy
Directed by: Kawaguchi Keichiiro
Character Designs by: Kagami Takahiro
Original Manga by: Shiina Takashi
Series Composition by: Noshizono Satoru
VAs: Tomatsu Haruka (Shiho), Shiraishi Ryoko (Aoi), Hirano Aya (Kaoru), Nakamura Yuuichi (Minamoto)

Pulling out 50+ episodes is a terrible difficult feat and Synergy managed it for a second year. Otherwise, animation and especially art varied wildly, especially when GONZO got involved. As for story and characters, it was enjoyable, but I never really got into it as with other shows.

Clannad ~After Story~
AniDB, AnimePlanet, ANN, Official, Forum@AnimeSuki, TV-Tropes, Preview, Impressions (1st cour), Impressions (2nd cour)
Studio: KyoAni
Directed by: Ishihara Tatsuya
Character Designs by: Ikeda Kazumi
Original Character Designs by: Hinoue Itaru
Original Game by: Key
Series Composition/Script by: Shimo Fumihiko
VAs: Nakamura Yuuichi (Tomoya), Nakahara Mai (Nagisa), Kawashima Houko (Tomoyo), Mamiko Noto (Kotomi), Hirohashi Ryou (Kyou), Kanda Akemi (Ryou), Tamura Yukari (Mei)

As I have said before what KyoAni/Key lack is originality, this is their third show which reshuffled the same plot and characterization. And also the visuals took a heavy hit during this season, though still are by far above average.

Asu no Yoichi!
明日のよいち!
AniDB, ANN, Official, Thread@AnimeSuki, Preview, Impressions
Studio: AIC
Directed by: Kujo Rion
Character Designs by: ???
Original Manga by: Minato You
Screenplay by: Kurata Hideyuki
VAs: Okamoto Nobuhiko (Yoichi), Satou Rina (Ibuki)

Purely fan-service, with average animation at best. The only shining point was Chihaya and unfortunately she got only one centric episode.

Tales of the Abyss
テイルズ オブジ アビス
AniDB, AnimePlanet, ANN, Official, Thread@AnimeSuki, TV-Tropes, Preview, Impressions
Studio: Sunrise
Directed by: Kodama Kenji
Character Designs by: Hishinuma Yoshihito
Original Character Designs by: Fujishima Kousuke
Original Game by: NAMCO
Series Composition by: Omode Akemi
VAs: Suzuki Chihiro (Luke), Yukana (Tear)

Too much exposition and at times horrible writting. Otherwise standard J-RPG chaos.

Druaga no Tou: Sword of Uruk
AniDB, AnimePlanet, ANN, Official, Thread@AnimeSuki, TV-Tropes, Preview, Impressions
Studio: GONZO
Directed by: Chigira Koichi
Character Designs by: Hakua Ugetsu
Screenplay/Series Composition by: Gatou Shoji
VAs: VA (role), VA (role)

If Tales had at times horrible writting, Druaga 2 as its predecessor had ONLY rediculous writting. Couple that with GONZO's animation and you get a recipie for certain failure.